Monday, July 30, 2007

I had this wonderful night of television last night. As I snuggled into my big chair, a cool breeze sweeped in the family room through the open door. I could smell someone had lit an outdoor fire pit and I watched the setting sun set everything ablaze. In the peace and quiet, I started at 7 p.m. with "60 Minutes" and ended with "Miss Marple"!

I am tagged. I wonder sometimes if I have anything else to share that won't seem shallow, or depressing or too much self-asbortion.

Rules: 1. We have to post these rules before we give you the facts. 2. Players start with eight random facts/habits about themselves. 3. People who are tagged write their own blog post about their eight things and include these rules. 4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged and that they should read your blog.

1. A Nail Biter. Since my schedule has changed, I have begun biting my fingernails again. I have 4 left that aren't chewed. Two hurt from having exposed tender skin where a nice nail onced resided. I am feeling weary and stressed and I am taking it out on my hands. I am so embarassed by them. I need to wrap tape on them now when I am home or in the car to stop that nasty habit again.

2. Robotic. My life feels like a series of dull, repeating events. Getting in my car to drive to work, listening to the traffic report and news, meetings, emails, illustrations in an hour, task, imax aps, eating lunch (since I am no required to work 9 hour days to accomodate an hour lunch which I have never taken before) and getting back in my car to drive home. Reminding myself that I am thankful to have a good-paying job that once allowed working moms flex-hours and that they might once again have the insight to do that again (soon). On the bright side, I have Harry Potter on cd to listen to.

3. List Maker. I make list while eating my lunch over my keyboard, while riding the elevator, while waiting for the coffee to brew in our fancy Starbucks auto brewer. I make list about what I should be doing with my life. I make list of the things I WANT to be doing with my life. I make list of things I need to do when I get home, items that need to be attended to do around the house, of people I need to write, gifts I need to buy, art I want to do. And immediately forget the list are floating around in my briefcase when I arrive home.

4. Overwhelmed. Home feels noisy, no room to think, no time to do art. The house itself seems to be collapsing onto itself with all the "stuff" in corners. I have not cleaned my bathroom since I started my new schedule, so it is dusty, dirty, the counters full of beauty bottles, potions, magazines, stuff. The toilet is surrounded in dog hair and the tub is backing up (and in bad need of scrubbing). There is an ironing board set up in the bedroom and has been there for months now ... stacked with clothes that need pressing. I am now down to not one pressed shirt to wear. I have never had an ironing board set up in one room for this long length of time. It has almost become part of the decor, as are the stack of clothes on the chair.

5. Sturdy Nerves. My wonderful son has his permit now so everytime I get into the car to go somewhere, there is voice asking me if he can drive me there. My son is a Virgo and certainly lives up to his astrological sign when it comes to driving (or anything important). He is not a risk-taker. He thinks everything through. So I am not afraid when he is behind the wheel, but I do find myself slamming my break foot into the floorboard when we approach a stop sign. I hear myself saying "okay, apply your brake", "it is time to slow down more", "ok, really need to slow down more" ... and then trying not to scream and scare him into pushing the wrong pedal "STOP!". He is doing really well ... I am just not looking forward to our first trip on the highway.

6. Mystery! I got really angry this week when I had an engagement that took my away on Sunday, making me miss "60 Minutes" AND a new Miss Marple that I had never seen before. I think I am getting too old to leave my house. I love the new "Miss Marple" series. I don't find too many shows that I want to watch on television. I have also been a Mystery! person.

7. Fear And Feeling Small. The news business is really getting to me. The fact that we will spend an enormous amount of pixels and bandwidth on the likes of Britney, Lindsay and Paris is confusing me more and more. They get "hits". Audience "google" them. They are news? I could care less if they are in jail, doing drugs, pregnant. It is beyond my comprehension that people want to spend time reading about them. I am scared shitless about global warming, what happens when we run out of potable water, kids starving in Africa, people getting massacred in Dharfur. I am disgusted with the blatant dishonesty and greed happening in our government and country and I feel too small. too busy, too overwhelmed with my own tedious life to do anything about these very big stories.

8. If I Were A Rich Man. I often fantasize about winning the lottery driving to work. By the time I get to work, I have the an entire plan worked up in my head about how I will 1. hire an accountant 2. divide the money up between family, friends and charities 3. the house I will build in some remote, very remote place, large enough to house all family members. But in my head-scheming ... I always keep my house that I have now. I love my house and I think she loves me. My son has lived here his entire life. I conjure up little tweaks I would make with my winnings, but my house is definitely staying in my list of assets when I win the lottery. ;)

bonus. Who Am I, Really? I think about this a lot lately. I need to be spending my down time learning CSS and watching Lynda.com classes. I need to be illustrating more, experimenting more with styles, learning HOW to illustrate again since I do it so rarely at work. I want to be doing assemblage art. I have an entire 1/3 of my garage filled to the brim with materials to do such art. I need to rebuild my website that sits out there in cyberspace, empty. I want to paint a portrait of my son. I want to make a quilt or two. I know I am too scattered. I think sometimes it would be easier if I gave up my art pursuits but then, who would I be? I would have more time but would my soul suffer? How to do all the things I need to be doing.

Saturday, July 28, 2007

Not only do we have to worry about falling down and breaking a hip when we get "old", we have to worry about being pushed down the stairs (by a college student).

Disturbing post on Ronni's As Time Goes By about age and race-related-hate-mongering over at facebook. Thankfully, I don't have time to visit that site ;) Parents think they are sending their kids to school for enlightenment, education. Maybe the parents deserve a refund.

Friday, July 27, 2007

Find myself sitting at work alot this week, waiting for Barry Bonds to score a couple of home runs. From a 1948 Modess ad ... "Modess ... because" so I will change that to "mooness ... because she glowed just thinking of him" for Illustration Friday. Then there is always the Man In The Moon or is that the Moon In The Man?

I attended Edward Tufte's one day course yesterday in Seattle. The course was informational and his books are pure elegance. I roughly calculated the guy makes over 2 million dollars from his 13 day courses around the U.S. after seeing how many attendees filled the room.

Bumped into a friend I have not seen in ages. Ran (no, really, ran) uphill to Peter Miller on the lunch break to look through cool books. And bought two outstanding ones. Tres Logos Book and Structural Greetings. Yeah, I probably could have purchased them for less on Amazon ... but I almost killed myself getting there and I wanted them! Needed to feel my run up the hill had not been in vain. ;)

But the crazy part of the day ... waiting for 1.25 hours to get out of the parking garage! Yes. I was shocked. When I pulled up to the Marriott parking and discovered it was only valet parking and would cost $32 for the day, I opted for a less expensive lot a block away. Well, while sitting in the traffic jam heading for the exit sign ... I thought how little $32 dollars really was and how I would have paid $50 at that moment to be out of that garage!

M is in Driver's Ed and is driving us around the neighborhood every night. Baby shower this weekend ... lots to do.

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Oh, I had such big plans for the water portion of this challenge. Since I am a water sign, I wanted to take my water-proof point and shoot in the pool next door. I just did not get around to that idea. And I wanted to finish up this month's last SPC challenge of water!

I have been listening to them for 30+ years and D surprised me with tickets to a sold-out Earth, Wind and Fire concert. And it was wonderful! That's the Way of the World! Forgotten the songs? Here is a collection of lyrics.

Saturday, July 21, 2007

{later}At the movies, a 40-year-old man patted my mom's date on the shoulder to ask if "he could say something to his wife". Mom's date said she is not my wife, but sure. This wonderful guy told my mom that she was the most beautiful woman he has seen in a long time! I asked mom's date if he had paid him to say that. He had not.Mom told him it was her birthday and that was a wonderful gift!

Friday, July 20, 2007

Ruth sent this in email today. These CAN NOT be true! If they are, I am very, very afraid!

A Washington, DC, airport ticket agent offers some examples of why our country is in trouble!

1. I had a New Hampshire Congresswoman ask for an aisle seat so that her hair wouldn't get messed up by being near the window. (On an airplane!)

2. I got a call from a candidate's staffer, who wanted to go to Capetown. I started to explain the length of the flight and the passport information. Then she interrupted me with, "I'm not trying to make you look stupid, but Capetown is in Massachusetts." Without trying to make her look stupid, I calmly explained, "Cape Cod is in Massachusetts, Capetown is in Africa. "Her response - click.

3. A senior Vermont Congressman called, furious about a Florida package we did. I asked what was wrong with the vacation in Orlando. He said he was expecting an ocean -view room. I tried to explain that's not possible, since Orlando is in the middle of the state. He replied, "Don't lie to me. I looked on the map and Florida is a very thin state!"

4. I got a call from a lawmaker's wife who asked, "Is it possible to see England from Canada?" I said, "No." She said, "But they look so close on the map."

5. An aide for a cabinet member once called and asked if he could rent a car in Dallas. When I pulled up the reservation, I noticed he had only a 1-hour layover in Dallas. When I asked him why he wanted to rent a car he said, "I heard Dallas was a big airport, and we will need a car to drive between gates to save time." (Aghhhh)

6. An Illinois Congresswoman called last week. She needed to know how it was possible that her flight from Detroit left at 8:30 am and got to Chicago at 8:33 am. I explained that Michigan was an hour ahead of Illinois, but she couldn't understand the concept of time zones. Finally, I told her the plane went fast, and she bought that.

7. A New York lawmaker called and asked, "Do airlines put your physical description on your bag so they know whose luggage belongs to whom?" I said, "No, why do you ask?" She replied, "Well, when I checked in with the airline, they put a tag on my luggage that said 'FAT', and I'm overweight. I think that's very rude!" After putting her on hold for a minute while I looked into it (I was laughing). I came back and explained the city code for Fresno, CA is 'FAT ( Fresno Air Terminal ), and the airline was just putting a destination tag on her luggage.

8. A Senator's aide called to inquire about a trip package to Hawaii. After going over all the cost info, she asked, "Would it be cheaper to fly to California, and then take the train to Hawaii?"

9. I just got off the phone with a freshman Congressman who asked, "How do I know which plane to get on?" I asked him what exactly he meant, to which he replied, "I was told my flight number is 823, but none of these planes have numbers on them."

10. A lady Senator called and said, "I need to fly to Pepsi-Cola, Florida. Do I have to get on one of those little computer planes?" I asked if she meant fly to Pensacola, Florida on a commuter plane. She said, "Yeah, whatever, smarty!"

11. A senior Senator called and had a question about the documents he needed in order to fly to China. After a lengthy discussion about passports, I reminded him that he needed a visa. "Oh, no I don't. I've been to China many times and never had to have one of those." I double checked and sure enough, his stay required a visa. When I told him this he said, "Look, I've been to China four times and every time they have accepted my American Express!"

12. A New Mexico Congresswoman called to make reservations, "I want to go from Chicago to Rhino, New York." I was at a loss for words. Finally, I said, "Are you sure that's the name of the town?" "Yes, what flights do you have?" replied the lady. After some searching, I came back with, "I'm sorry, ma'am, I've looked up every airport code in the country and can't find a Rhino anywhere." The lady retorted, "Oh, don't be silly! Everyone knows where it is. Check your map!" So I scoured a map of the state of New York and finally offered, "You don't mean Buffalo, do you?" The reply? "Whatever! I knew it was a big animal."

'In 2003, WIDE ANGLE profiled children in seven countries --Afghanistan, Benin, Brazil, India, Japan, Kenya and Romania -- as they started their first year of school, often despite great odds. Three years later, the series returned to visit each child, filming the first update on their progress in school. The children are endearing, and their contrasting lives provide rich insight into the disparities of opportunity around the globe with over 100 million children unable to attend even one day of school. This special includes interviews with prominent education specialists from the children's own countries, who lend their insights into the causes of and solutions to this global challenge.''

Remember when a box could become a house or a place to hide? We would make our son some elaborate houses with windows and opening doors from big cardboard boxes. When we were kids we would pile up in the back of a pickup truck on the dark of night and watch falling stars on a silent highway between Dallas and Alvarado. We would sit for hours and study the face of a grasshopper or how a tarantula would come in and out of the ground? These were times for discoveries ... and I miss them. Discover more at Illustration Friday.

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

"At a Hillary Clinton fund-raiser in New York last month, Warren Buffett, no stranger to wealth, told an audience filled with bankers and real-estate developers the system was, in effect, rigged. "This is what Congress in its wisdom did: the 400 of us [here] pay a lower part of our income in taxes than our receptionists do, or our cleaning ladies, for that matter." Buffett (who is a director of NEWSWEEK's parent, The Washington Post Company) offered a million dollars to any fellow magnate who could prove he had higher tax rates than his secretary."

I heard this story on NPR the other morning and reading it tonight on Newsweek about "Taxing the Super Rich" doesn't make it any easier to swallow. Haven't we been talking about doing an across-the-board percentage for paying our taxes for years? You pay "x" percent of your income, at any and every level ... doesn't that sound fair to you? I pay an enormous amount of tax and accept that as part of being an American but stories like this make my blood boil. The "super rich" should step up and pay their fair share as well! I would love to know what someone earning $398 million in a year would pay in taxes!

Monday, July 16, 2007

I have a burning desire ... a fire so hot, so intense, to do my art, to succeed in my endeavors and I am afraid that my fire will extinquish before I ever get started. Or this portrait could be seen as "I am living in hell right now". Either way, it is "fire"in the elements challenge.

Go see more burning portraits here. A large version of my very creepy portrait.

Saturday, July 14, 2007

We have a fennel that moves from one spot to another in the yard. We pull it up and it appears somewhere else like magic.

I am not sure how I got on the kitchen cleaning kick today. But I ened up washing walls, ceiling in the kitchen. Mopping on hands and knees. Cleaning all doors and drawers. Shopping in Edmonds with my friend. Found mom the perfect birthday present. Now I am really tired. A good tired.

I finished these invitations this week. I had the idea of the belly pulling out with some info there but wasn't sure I could pull it off. But it wasn't really that difficult and turned out pretty cute. A small chuckle at least!

July 7 started out productive and busy for me. Ran some errands with Tara, grocery shopped with mom, went house-warming-present-shopping for my friend's party that night. Then came home and started feeling flu-ish, sore throat and thought if I just laid down I would feel better in an hour. Which was not the case. Gave up the party idea, took drugs, laid down and watched Live Earth concerts and the blog. So in honor of being green ... simple acts of green via vegas and venus. Sew Green. Green Tip of the Day and A Green Truth: 5 Things to Buy. The Green Guide.

Thursday, July 05, 2007

I hate to give advice ... but there is a very talented person in Texas and I want her to get this message. For some it might always be a daily struggle. Some may never realize how truly talented they are. For some, it might take a little longer to get started on the right path. You must do what makes you happy (even it is a couple of hours a week). Believe in yourself because we all believe in you. ;) Enjoy every second of motherhood, before you know it, you are buying them a car. Your dreams are achieveable ... otherwise, there would little reason for me to get up in the morning! ;) We adore you. !

(I bought these sentence cubes at the thrift store today and when I poured the words out, "Live Now Girl" appeared and it made me think about her.)

Monday, July 02, 2007

'Twas a good couple of days. Cleaning a very dirty family room and computer work area -- Q-tips and alcohol on keyboards! We have so many dirty little fingers on these keyboards that sometimes I don't even want to touch them. Plus M, myself and his friends eat and drink over the keyboard. A no no, but I do it so much at work that now I can mouse and eat with not problemo.

Some much needed gardening. The morning glories have taken over, the barberry are out of control. I once had many dreams for my backyard ... and my dream now pared down to just keeping the weeds in check and the dog poop scooped up. So low have my aspirations dropped. Listened to all the grandkids next door playing on the "fort" that I gave my neighbors years ago when M out grew it. While we were rebuilding the fence, 6 or 7 of us picked it up and moved it over. We wanted to get the eyesore out of our backyard ... a huge, unused fort taking up a quarter of the yard ... and now I get to look at it in my neighbors yard. That has been 7 or 8 years now. It might have been more prudent if I had just dismantled it and took it off far far away ... sometimes being nice it is not the wisest idea. When I go to my yard seeking solitude and quiet, the kids are in the two story fort yelling over the fence "Hey, Kim" .... and telling me their stories. Not that I mind visiting with them but sometimes, just sometimes, with my morning cup coffee while in my pajamas or with my glass of wine while in my pajamas or in my bathing suit (when I definitely want no one to see me, I don't care how old they are) it would be nice to know I am guaranteed privacy in my backyard. We have planted many trees, grapes, climbing hydrangeas ... trying to insure our little plot of land is private ... but there is that one area where the fort is located. Anyhoo, I had a nice visit with one of the grandkids ... trimmed ... listen to them giggle and make s'mores ... sat down a minute to watch clouds float by and crows go to roost. Flipped through second-hand magazines from mom's friend. Thought about the car I put a down-payment on today for Matt. That is such a big step but we found a great car at a great price ... so here we enter into a new phase of parenthood. Falling down and scratched knees or hurt feelings seems so distant and so trivial vs. driving and driver's license and all the hazzard with that area.

I realized today, as if I didn't all ready know this, how mentally tired I am. Focusing on one thing is such a chore for me right now. I feel like I have a zillion things floating around in my brain -- as annoying as those three flies that make their way into the house, fly in a circle in one spot. I wish I had a better way focusing and accomplishing one thing and moving on instead of so much multi-tasking. I am (was) such a great multi-tasker, but I think it has gotten the best of me. ;)

The best thing about today was it was Sunday and I didn't have to think about going to work tomorrow. I cleaned and cleaned ... then we met up with our fabulous neighbors for food and wine. Life is good.